You are never too old or too young to establish and stick to a budget. Neither category applies. According to Amy Maliga, a financial educator with Take Charge America, creating and sticking to a budget is the most important step toward responsible financial management. A budget is a tool that enables you to keep track of the amount of money that is coming into your business, the amount of money that is leaving your business, and the specific destination of that money.
Are you ready to start your budget? You can determine how much money you are spending by following these procedures, which will also help you avoid making budgeting blunders that are common among beginners.
Lack of use of a Tracking Tool
Do not fall into the trap of creating your budget using Post-it Notes; this is a mistake. The use of a specified monitoring technique that you are certain you will be able to keep to, such as a spreadsheet, physical notepad, or specialized budgeting software, is something that Maliga advocates.
Establishing Unrealistic Monetary Objectives
According to Brittney Castro, a financial expert who was formerly the in-house certified financial planner (CFP) at Mint, one of the first steps in the process of beginning a budget is to review your financial accounts and make certain that you are aware of where you stand in terms of your net worth.
After that, you should consider reevaluating your monetary objectives. Determine which of your objectives should take precedence, and then write them down so that they can seem more actionable.
Be careful not to fall into the trap of creating financial objectives that are out of touch with where you are in your life at this point.
Castro said, “Feel a new path for where you want to concentrate your financial objectives if you find that the goals you established last year are no longer relevant or a priority for you.” “If you find that the goals you made last year are no longer relevant or a priority for you, find a new direction.”
Castro suggests doing a reassessment of your financial strategy annually or whenever significant life events occur. When you decide to establish new objectives, make it a point to commit to seeing them through to the end. Make every effort to avoid making consistent adjustments in response to the ups and downs of life.
Failure to Keep a Record of ALL Expenses
Figuring out how much money you have coming in each month and where this money is coming from is an essential part of creating and sticking to a budget. This may include your take-home money, the cash you get from freelance work or a side business, bonuses, spousal or child support payments, and any benefits you receive from the government.
After you have determined how much money is coming in, it is important to plan out and keep tabs on your outgoing cash flow. The following are some of the costs that Maliga suggests keeping track of.
Fixed costs are those that do not change from month to month and include things like rent, payments on a mortgage or other loan, payments on a car loan, and insurance premiums.
Expenses that are variable are those that shift from one month to the next. Consider the cost of food, utilities, medical expenses, and credit card statements. When you are initially beginning your budget, Maliga mentioned that you are able to estimate the variable costs. After keeping track of your expenditures for a few months, you’ll have a better understanding of how much money is spent and be able to create a more realistic budget.
Costs that occur just once or a few times a year are known as periodic expenses. Examples of periodic expenses are back-to-school shopping and automobile registration fees.
Maliga said, “Keep account of all of your spending for the next thirty days.” “Make sure that you keep track of every single cost, no matter how big or how tiny it is, even if it’s only a pack of gum or a cup of coffee.”
Having the Attitude that a Budget Is Too Strict
Your financial plan isn’t intended to put you in a bind in any way. Instead, Maliga described it as a tool that assists you in accomplishing your monetary objectives. Make use of it to keep track of your expenditures and to make necessary modifications so that you may achieve a comfortable equilibrium.
According to Maliga, “Once you get used to it, budgeting should give you more freedom and peace of mind by taking the mystery out of where your money is going and whether you’ll have enough to make it through month to month.” “Once you get used to it, budgeting should give you more freedom and peace of mind by taking the mystery out of where your money is going,”
Making Late Payments
Remember to make on-time payments whenever possible. This has significant repercussions for both your financial plan and your credit score.
Castro said, “Keep a careful watch on the due dates of your bills, since prompt repayment accounts for 35% of your credit score. Because of this, it is essential to never miss a payment.”
Castro suggests setting up recurring obligations with an autopay feature. Consider the statements for your credit card and any school loans you may have.
Having feelings of despondency or exhaustion
When you first start a budget, it’s natural to get disheartened, particularly if you don’t immediately find the ideal balance between your income and your expenses.
Maliga says that you create objectives for yourself that are attainable in order to avoid being frustrated or exhausted. She gives the example that if you buy food delivery every night, you might potentially reduce the amount you spend on food by preparing meals at home. To get started, set a goal for yourself to cook at least a couple times every week. You should try to get to the point where you cook at home more often than you eat out.
If your spending continue to exceed your income, you may need to make more significant adjustments to the way you live. If you are having trouble paying your rent and other monthly bills, Maliga suggests that you investigate the possibility of finding a roommate with whom you may split these costs.
It is important to keep in mind that flexibility and consistency are the keys to effective budgeting at every period of your life, even if it may be challenging to start a budget.
According to Maliga, “Your budget will develop and vary over time as you encounter increases or losses in income, changes in work responsibilities, and other life events.” However, if you get into the practice of budgeting, implementing these adjustments to your budget will seem as natural as brushing your teeth.
